"Let me apologize to everybody for Biggert-Waters. I am the 'Waters' of Biggert-Waters."
"I want you to know that I am very interested in whether or not we can have a private/public operation that will do the best job for our constituents."
"I really do commend them for the attempts that they have made to try and have this a bipartisan issue."
"Together, we worked tirelessly to enact reform that provided much needed rate relief for thousands of homeowners."
"Short-term extensions cause lapses in the program that place communities at risk and undermine our housing market."
"Our goal was to create a bipartisan solution to repair our ailing Flood Insurance Program."
"I believe that it is absolutely critical that we start thinking about the program and how we can improve it for the long term."
"Indeed, it was only 7 short years ago that our economy lost nearly $16 trillion in household wealth."
"Unfortunately, many of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle seem to have caught a convenient case of amnesia about this important mandate."
"Please know that Democrats are committed to full funding for the SEC because the Commission provides the first line of protection for investors."
"And we believe that, of course, the entire continent has been exploited for far too long and that the people have not benefited from the rich resources in many of the parts of the continent."